PRESS RELEASE

20 November 2017

Royal Navy completes Sea Ceptor firing trials

The Royal Navy has successfully conducted more firing trials of the new Sea Ceptor air defence
system – completing testing of this cutting-edge new capability for the navy.

Following on from the first round of trials this summer, the second set of trials from HMS Argyll saw
the system tested against more complex scenarios, including rapidly engaging multiple simultaneous
threats.

With HMS Argyll having completed development testing of Sea Ceptor, the programme has now
moved onto a series of installation test firings – the first of which has been successfully completed on
HMS Westminster. Each of the Royal Navy’s other Type 23 frigates will similarly complete an
installation test firing in due course as they prepare to re-join frontline service after their refit.

Sea Ceptor offers a step-change in capability compared with legacy systems like Sea Wolf, which it is
replacing in Royal Navy service. While Sea Wolf gave Royal Navy warships the capability to protect
themselves, with Sea Ceptor the navy’s frigates will now also be able to protect other vessels.

Speaking following the success of the trials, Nick Neale, Sea Ceptor Programme Manager at MBDA
said: “The performance and capabilities of Sea Ceptor have been fully demonstrated in these
outstanding trials by the Royal Navy. Recognising the complexity of the new system, the consistent
level of success achieved is quite remarkable and testament to the quality of MBDA’s verification and
validation process”.

Sea Ceptor’s missile is called CAMM (Common Anti-air Modular Missile), and its unique features
provide the key to this step-change in capability. These include its powerful rocket motor that
provides double the range of Sea Wolf, and its active radar-seeker that means the missile can engage
targets without the need for complex and costly target illuminators.

CAMM also makes use of a soft-launch system that uses a gas generator to eject the missile from its
canister, the benefits of which include: further increased range by saving all the rocket motor’s
energy to power the intercept, decreased minimum intercept distance, reduced stresses on the
launch platform, significantly reduced maintenance requirements/costs, more compact installation
on ship, and removes the need to manage the hot gas efflux on board.

Despite being brand new to the international market the benefits that CAMM offers have already
been widely acknowledged internationally; with six nations having chosen it as the basis for their
future local air defence capabilities.

As part of the Portfolio system of co-operation between the UK Ministry of Defence and MBDA,
CAMM is also being brought into service as the Land Ceptor system to replace the British Army’s
Rapier ground-based air defence systems. By operating the same type of missile, both services will be

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able to take advantage of significant cost benefits throughout the lifecycle of the systems, including
development, procurement, support costs and sharing a completely common stockpile.

Notes to Editors:

MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems
that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces
(land, sea and air).

With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2016 MBDA achieved a
turnover of 3.0 billion euros with an order book of 15.9 billion euros. With more than 90 armed
forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.

In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in
operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.

MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%).

Press contacts:

Jean Dupont Nick de Larrinaga

Tel : +33 (0)1 71 54 11 73 Tel : +44 (0) 1438 754699
Mobile: +33 (0)6 33 37 64 66 Mobile: +44(0) 7812 624739
jean.dupont@mbda-systems.com nick.delarrinaga@mbda-systems.com

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